HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News Record, 2014-07-16, Page 22 News Record • Wednesday, July 16, 2014
Cause undetermined in Queen's Hotel fire
Whitney South
Huron Expositor
Fire officials have completed
their investigation, hoping to
find the cause of the fire at the
Queen's Hotel, but have
declared it undetermined.
The blaze, which saw depart-
ments from Seaforth, Central
Huron and West Perth called to
the scene at around 11:30 p.m.
on the evening of July 6, caused
extensive damage to the third
floor, where the fire was believed
to have started.
No one was home at the time
of the incident but the owners,
who were out of the country,
have since been notified.
After a visit from the Ontario
Fire Marshal, as well as a struc-
tural engineer, the investigation
was wrapped up due to building
instability, as well as a lack of
any physical evidence.
"The third floor was deemed
unsafe, at that point we had to
make a decision whether we
were going any further with the
investigation or not," said Huron
East Fire Chief Marty Bedard.
"The decision was to call it
undetermined because we had
no substantial leads of
suspicion.
With damage estimated at
between $400,000 and $500,000,
there is a possibility the struc-
ture may have to be
demolished.
But, according to acting Chief
Building Official Barry Mills,
with the investigation over, the
fate of the historic site now rests
in the hands of the building's
owner.
Currently, the municipality
has issued an order to remedy
an unsafe building which must
be completed by July 18.
"The building owner has been
notified and served," Mills
explained. "The entire roof of
the building, as well as the
north, south and east walls of
the main building at the upper
level need to be secured:'
The site is currently blocked
off by the municipality due to
safety concerns.
Whitney South, Huron Expositor
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Robert Boyce, for the Expositor
Tracy Medeiros, for the Expositor